Meet Rebecca Rubin!
Growing up in New York City in 1914, Rebecca Rubin is a spirited girl who dreams of movie stardom while navigating between her Russian-Jewish family’s traditions and American possibilities.
Author Jacqueline Dembar Greene
Jacqueline Dembar Greene used to read historical novels under an apple tree in her yard when she was a girl. While writing about Rebecca, Ms. Greene explored New York’s Lower East Side and visited the neighborhoods in Rebecca’s world to help her write. Ms. Greene lives in Massachusetts with her husband. When she isn’t writing, she enjoys hiking, gardening, and traveling to visit her two adult sons.
When Rebecca’s cousin Ana arrives off the ferryboat from Russia, she takes a bath in a metal tub in the kitchen!
Rebecca’s family brings their brass samovar from Russia—a traditional tea urn and cherished heirloom that symbolizes home, warmth, and traditions.
Yiddish and Italian newspapers were readily available, and shops often had signs in several languages.
Mama’s cousin Max believes Rebecca has natural talent as an actress. He encourages her to follow her acting dreams.
Amerikanka is the Russian way to say American. Because of her Russian background, Rebecca’s cousin Ana pronounces “flag” as “fleg” and “land” as “lend."
Rebecca likes to pretend she’s auditioning for a movie. She imagines playing a poor immigrant who had to sweep the streets to help her family survive.
The name Matryoshka, as in Matryoshka dolls, comes from Matryona, meaning “little mother” and symbolizes family, tradition, and generations within generations.
Recorded music of all kinds was so popular by Rebecca’s time that “talking machines” and phonographs could not be built fast enough.
Many Jewish immigrants worked in dangerous factory sweatshops for low pay. These jobs were often the only choice for those who didn’t yet speak English.
In the early 1900s, factory workers began organizing into unions. Owners brought in police to arrest the strikers, but finally agreed to some of their demands.
Jewish families would practice mitzvah whenever they could by putting spare change in a pushke—a charity box—that was donated to their synagogue to help new immigrants.
By 1914, New York City was a major hub of the booming movie industry. Studios across the U.S. produced hundreds of silent films each year and employed thousands in film production.
